Our group had the pleasure of hearing Haiti’s Director of
Education of the North speak about his vision for the future of Haiti’s
education system. His passion for this cause was both genuine and compelling. During
his address to the group, he indicated that educators in Haiti are in this
field not because it is a job, but because they live this role as a vocation in
their lives.
It is generally accepted that doing what you love and are
passionate about makes “work” not feel like “work” at all. Throughout this
trip, I have been astounded by the passion of our diverse group. Our evening debriefs
and meetings have overwhelmed with ideas, debates, inspiration, and “aha” moments.
In fact, much of the conversation has revolved around how to reign in the
passion to find concrete and manageable next steps without over-committing.
Furthermore, the devotion of this team is emphasized by the fact that many of
our members are participating on personal time.
Not everyone has the opportunity to thrive in this way
throughout their career. Haiti, for example, lacks much of the infrastructure
necessary to give its younger generation ample choice and opportunity in
vocation. Having said this, I have been so impressed with the consistency of
Haiti’s value of education. In fact, this value appears to be embedded in the
Haitian culture. As a country, Haiti sees education as the key with which the
country can thrive. Pastor Caleb, a Haitian man, even told us that at his age
of 54, if he told his father he wanted to pursue further education, his 80+
year old father would begin harvesting sugar cane to afford this. This speaks
to the goal and vision Haiti has for its people. It also reinforces why continued
collaboration to achieve this dream is so necessary.
By Jessica Vorsteveld
No comments:
Post a Comment